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NOV. 8, 1932. w o WETMQRE 1,887,343

OIL LIBERATOR Filed Feb. 3, 1930 f T'UNITED STAT S :aPATENT F I I E Patented Nov. 8, 1932 WILLIAM o. wn'rmonm or wnsnmeromynrsrnrc'r or commtnm Y. I

- 01L LIBERATOR I Application filed l eb'ru aryt, 1 3 Serial No. 425,619.

1,623,371, dated April 5, 1927, the primary purpose of which is to provide a device vfor liberating oil in relatively small quantities in bodies of water, for the purpose of producing a film of oil on the surface of the water,

which will be 7 effective in preventing the breeding ofmosquitoes and the like.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation, broken'away in part, of the device in its normal mode of application. A v s Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating a form of the devicewhich is adapted to be sold or stored with the complement of oiltherein. v

In the particular form'of the device shown and described in my prior patent aforesaid, the particular arrangement of the inlet for the water, comprising an elbow-shaped tube connected with the container near the bottom and extending upwardly, gave rise to frequent difiiculties because of'the obstruction of the inlet, especially when the apparatus was submerged in ponds or waterways having soft mud bottoms, A further difiiculty with the former type of the device was due to the tendency of the latter to fail to deliver or discharge oil when submerged, which failure was apparentlyoccasioned by the surface tension of the oil in contact with the interior of the container adjacent the discharge opening. Both of thesedifficulties have been overcome in the present invention by the location of the water inlet opening near the top of the container, which thereby eliminates the tendency of the inlet to be choked or obstructed by foreign material from the outside, admits the water to displace the oil at a point where the water will be forced to follow the wall of the container or sink through the body of the oil, so that the oil is displaced very slowly or gradually. Furthermore, the location of the water inlet near the top of the container insures the formation of an air pocket or space in the top of the container, the air therein being first forced out of the 'discharge opening, whenthe device has been submerged, and said air apparently carrying with it sufiicient oil to initiate the discharge of the main body of oil, which discharge is.

continuous until all of the oil intherecepta cle has been displaced by theentering water.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the 'i body of the container, which is preferably 7 frusto-conical in shape, as this particular shape is best adapted to serve conditionsof economy of manufacture and efiiciency of op er'ation. The lower part ofthe body portion is closed by a substantially'flat bottom 2, which may be seamed,fsoldered or otherwise connected to the body portionl. In the form or the device shown, the receptacle is construc'ted of sheet metal, which maybe tinned or galvanized, or otherwise treated, whenthe receptacle is to be used repeatedly; The upper portion of the body 1 terminates in a hol lowv threaded neck 4, which receives an in 'teriorly threaded cap 5, whichis also made 7 of sheet metal and is preferably provided with a bail 6 by means of which. the recepf tacle maybe lifted and transported and f which serves as means of attaching a, float line, when the receptacle isto be recovered after the oil has been exhausted therefrom.

The center of thecap 5 is provided with an opening 7 through whichthe oilis discharged '1 and it has" been found necessary to form thevdischarge opening 7 with jaggedlor roughened edges to insure thedischarge of the oil, as a relatively small smooth edged orifice will not properly discharge the oil; especially if" :the latter is of the heavier varieties." How ever, ithas been found that the jagged edged discharge opening is entirely effective and once thevdischarge of'the oil from the receptacle has been initiated, it isuniform and continuousuntil the" supply of oil has been exhaustedl' Formed in the side of the receptacle a short distance below the top thereof is an opening 8, which, when the vessel is submerged, ad-

mits water'thereto' to displace the oil. As

hereinbefore stated, the placing of the water inlet opening just below the top "of the receptacle not only insures the unobstructed en- I trance of the; water to'the receptacle without on its bottom, so that it will be in upright position, either when'lowered or cast into the water, the bottom is provided with a weight 8, which, in the form shown, consists of a bar of iron or the like, which is welde or otherwise secured to the bottom.

In applying the device to its intended use the oil is supplied to the receptacle through the opening at the top, after the screw cap has been removed. Theamount'of oil supplied will depend upon the surface area of the body of water to be treated. Under usual conditions, however, the oil content will be sup-plied until it reaches the levelof the water inlet opening 8, which will be evidenced by sight orby the oil running out of said opening. The screw cap is then replaced and the device is ready for use and is either lowered by a fioatline or cast into the body of water to be treated with the oil-film, when said device immediately begins to function; that is to say, the heavier water will begin to pass into the receptacle through the inlet opening 8 near the top and, moving down the side of the receptacle or through the body of the lighter oil, will displace the latter. As the whole body of oil is gradually moved up- .ward, the first effect will be to displace the air in the air pocket or space above the water inlet Band the forcing of the air out of the discharge opening 7 apparently has a priming effect to insure the proper discharge of V the oil, after the last of the air has been forced .close the openings 7 and 8 by means of a plug or by a seal, or equivalent closing means, or, 1n the alternat1ve, to indicate on the cap 5 and the body 1, by suitable markings or indentations, where the holes 7 and 8 are to be punched or formed. In any of these cases, it will be necessary for the user to uncover the openings which have been sealed, or to form the openings, which have been indicated by the markings, before the apparatus is applied to its intended use. It will be understood that the receptacle may be of any appropriate form that will insure the gradual discharge of the oil from the top, as the water enters the lateral inlet near the top, but, as stated, as a matter of economyv of manufacture and facility and efiiciency in operation, the frusto-conical form, including the weighted flat bottom, is preferred.

What I claim is:

1. A device for liberating oil in bodies of water, comprising a frusto-conical container, a screwrcap on the upper end having a small opening therein, and a water inlet opening in the side of the container 21 short distance below the top. I

2. A' device forliberating oilin bodies of water, comprising a frusto-conical container having a weighted bottom, a screw cap on they upper end having a small opening therein,

and a water" inlet opening in the side of the container a short distance below the top. 3. A device for liberating oil in bodies of 'Water, comprising] a container having a weighted bottom, a relatively small jagged edged opening in the top and a water inlet opening in the side a short distance below the top. r I 4t. A device for liberating oil in bodies of water, comprising a container with a removable top closure and having a relatively small outlet opening in the top and a water-inlet opening a relatively short distance below the outlet to provide an air pocket between the surface of the contained liquid and'the' outlet opening. I

5. A device for liberating oil in bodies of water, comprising a container including a substantially conical vessel with a closed bottom and a removable top closure and having a relatively small outlet opening in the top'and a water inletopening a relatively short distance below the outlet to provide an air pocket between the surface of the contained liquid and the outlet opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM o. WE' MORE.

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